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part of her education。 It seldom happens that a man； in any part
of his life； derives any conveniency or advantage from some of
the most laborious and troublesome parts of his education。
Ought the public； therefore； to give no attention； it may be
asked； to the education of the people？ Or if it ought to give
any； what are the different parts of education which it ought to
attend to in the different orders of the people？ and in what
manner ought it to attend to them？
In some cases the state of the society necessarily places
the greater part of individuals in such situations as naturally
form in them； without any attention of government； almost all the
abilities and virtues which that state requires； or perhaps can
admit of。 In other cases the state of the society does not place
the part of individuals in such situations； and some attention of
government is necessary in order to prevent the almost entire
corruption and degeneracy of the great body of the people。
In the progress of the division of labour； the employment of
the far greater part of those who live by labour； that is； of the
great body of the people； comes to be confined to a few very
simple operations； frequently to one or two。 But the
understandings of the greater part of men are necessarily formed
by their ordinary employments。 The man whose whole life is spent
in performing a few simple operations； of which the effects are
perhaps always the same； or very nearly the same； has no occasion
to exert his understanding or to exercise his invention in
finding out expedients for removing difficulties which never
occur。 He naturally loses； therefore； the habit of such exertion；
and generally becomes as stupid and ignorant as it is possible
for a human creature to become。 The torpor of his mind renders
him not only incapable of relishing or bearing a part in any
rational conversation； but of conceiving any generous； noble； or
tender sentiment； and consequently of forming any just judgment
concerning many even of the ordinary duties of private life。 Of
the great and extensive interests of his country he is altogether
incapable of judging； and unless very particular pains have been
taken to render him otherwise； he is equally incapable of
defending his country in war。 The uniformity of his stationary
life naturally corrupts the courage of his mind； and makes him
regard with abhorrence the irregular； uncertain； and adventurous
life of a soldier。 It corrupts even the activity of his body； and
renders him incapable of exerting his strength with vigour and
perseverance in any other employment than that to which he has
been bred。 His dexterity at his own particular trade seems； in
this manner； to be acquired at the expense of his intellectual；
social； and martial virtues。 But in every improved and civilised
society this is the state into which the labouring poor； that is；
the great body of the people； must necessarily fall； unless
government takes some pains to prevent it。
It is otherwise in the barbarous societies； as they are
commonly called； of hunters； of shepherds； and even of husbandmen
in that rude state of husbandry which precedes the improvement of
manufactures and the extension of foreign commerce。 In such
societies the varied occupations of every man oblige every man to
exert his capacity and to invent expedients for removing
difficulties which are continually occurring。 Invention is kept
alive； and the mind is not suffered to fall into that drowsy
stupidity which； in a civilised society； seems to benumb the
understanding of almost all the inferior ranks of people。 In
those barbarous societies； as they are called； every man； it has
already been observed； is a warrior。 Every man； too； is in some
measure a statesman； and can form a tolerable judgment concerning
the interest of the society and the conduct of those who govern
it。 How far their chiefs are good judges in peace； or good
leaders in war； is obvious to the observation of almost every
single man among them。 In such a society； indeed； no man can well
acquire that improved and refined understanding which a few men
sometimes possess in a more civilised state。 Though in a rude
society there is a good deal of variety in the occupations of
every individual； there is not a great deal in those of the whole
society。 Every man does； or is capable of doing； almost every
thing which any other man does； or is capable of doing。 Every man
has a considerable degree of knowledge； ingenuity； and invention：
but scarce any man has a great degree。 The degree； however； which
is commonly possessed； is generally sufficient for conducting the
whole simple business of the society。 In a civilised state； on
the contrary； though there is little variety in the occupations
of the greater part of individuals； there is an almost infinite
variety in those of the whole society。 These varied occupations
present an almost infinite variety of objects to the
contemplation of those few； who； being attached to no particular
occupation themselves； have leisure and inclination to examine
the occupations of other people。 The contemplation of so great a
variety of objects necessarily exercises their minds in endless
comparisons and combinations； and renders their understandings；
in an extraordinary degree； both acute and comprehensive。 Unless
those few； however； happen to be placed in some very particular
situations； their great abilities； though honourable to
themselves； may contribute very little to the good government or
happiness of their society。 Notwithstanding the great abilities
of those few； all the nobler parts of the human character may be；
in a great measure； obliterated and extinguished in the great
body of the people。
The education of the common people requires； perhaps； in a
civilised and commercial society the attention of the public more
than that of people of some rank and fortune。 People of some rank
and fortune are generally eighteen or nineteen years of age
before they enter upon that particular business； profession； or
trade； by which they propose to distinguish themselves in the
world。 They have before that full time to acquire； or at least to
fit themselves for afterwards acquiring； every accomplishment
which can recommend them to the public esteem； or render them
worthy of it。 Their parents or guardians are generally
sufficiently anxious that they should be so accomplished； and
are； in most cases； willing enough to lay out the expense which
is necessary for that purpose。 If they are not always properly
educated； it is seldom from the want of expense laid out upon
their education； but from the improper application of that
expense。 It is seldom from the want of masters； but from the
negligence and incapacity of the masters who are to be had； and
from the difficulty； or rather from the impossibility； which
there is in the present state of things of finding any better。
The employments； too； in which people of some rank or fortune
spend the greater part of their lives are not； like those of the
common people； simple and uniform。 They are almost all of them
extremely complicated； and such as exercise the head more than
the hands。 The understandings of those who are engaged in such
employments can seldom grow torpid for want of exercise。 The
employments of people of some rank and fortune； besides； are
seldom such as harass them from morning to night。 They generally
have a good deal of leisure； during which they may perfect
themselves in every branch either of useful or ornamental
knowledge of which they may have laid the foundation； or for
which they may have acquired some taste in the earlier part of
life。
It is otherwise with the common people。 They have little
time to spare for education。 Their parents can scarce afford to
maintain them even in infancy。 As soon as they are able to work
they must apply to some trade by which they can earn their
subsistence。 That trade； too； is generally so simple and uniform
as to give little exercise to the understanding； while； at the
same time； their labour is both so constant and so severe； that
it leaves them little leisure and less inclination to apply to；
or even to think of； anything else。
But though the common people cannot； in any civilised
society； be so well instructed as people of some rank and
fortune； the most essential parts of education； however； to read；
write； and account； can be acquired at so early a period of life
that the greater part even of those who are to be bred to the
lowest occupations have time to acquire them before they can be
employed in those occupations。 For a very small expense the
public can facilitate； can encourage； and can even impose upon
almost the whole body of the people the necessity of acquiring
those most essential parts of education。
The public can facilitate this acquisition by establishing
in every p